Energy transfer mechanism for wellbore junction assembly

ABSTRACT

A unitary multilateral junction for deployment in a wellbore, wherein the multilateral junction permits electrical power and communications signals to be established in both a lateral wellbore and a main wellbore utilizing. The unitary junction assembly generally includes a conduit with a first upper aperture, a first lower aperture and a second lower aperture where the first lower aperture is defined at the distal end of a primary passageway extending from a conduit junction and a second lower aperture defined at the distal end of a lateral passageway extending from the conduit junction. A lower wireless energy transfer mechanism is positioned along at least one of the passageways between the distal end of the passageway and the junction. The lower wireless energy transfer mechanism is in wired communication an upper energy transfer mechanism permitting electrical communication to be established across the intersection of wellbore branches utilizing the unitary junction.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to completing wellbores in theoil and gas industry and, more particularly, to a multilateral junctionthat permits electrical power and communications signals to beestablished in both a lateral wellbore and a main wellbore utilizing aunitary multilateral junction.

BACKGROUND

In the production of hydrocarbons, it is common to drill one or moresecondary wellbores (alternately referred to as lateral or branchwellbores) from a primary wellbore (alternately referred to as parent ormain wellbores). The primary and secondary wellbores, collectivelyreferred to as a multilateral wellbore may be drilled, and one or moreof the primary and secondary wellbores may be cased and perforated usinga drilling rig. Thereafter, once a multilateral wellbore is drilled andcompleted, production equipment such as production casing, packers andscreens is installed in the wellbore, the drilling rig may be removedand the primary and secondary wellbores are allowed to producehydrocarbons.

It is often desirable during the installation of the productionequipment to include various electrical devices such as permanentsensors, flow control valves, digital infrastructure, optical fibersolutions, Intelligent Inflow Control Devices (ICD's), seismic sensors,vibration inducers and sensors and the like that can be monitored andcontrolled remotely during the life of the producing reservoir. Suchequipment is often referred to as intelligent well completion equipmentand permits production to be optimized by collecting, transmitting, andanalyzing completion, production, and reservoir data; allowing remoteselective zonal control and ultimately maximizing reservoir efficiency.Typically, communication signals and electrical power between thesurface and the intelligent well completion equipment are via cablesextending from the surface. These cables may extend along the interiorof a tubing string or the exterior of a tubing string or may beintegrally formed within the tubing string walls. However, it will beappreciated that to maintain the integrity of the well, it is desirablefor a cable not to breach or cross over pressure barriers formed by thevarious tubing, casing and components (such as packers, collars,hangers, subs and the like) within the well. For example, it isgenerally undesirable for a cable to pass between an interior andexterior of a tubing string since the aperture or passage through whichthe cable would pass could represent a breach of the pressure barrierformed between the interior and exterior of the tubing.

Moreover, because of the construction of the well, it may be difficultto deploy control cable from the surface to certain locations within thewell. The presence of junctions between various tubing, casings and,components such as packers, collars, hangers, subs and the like, withinthe wellbore, particularly when separately installed, may limit theability to extend cables to certain portions of the wellbore. This isparticularly true in the case of lateral wellbores since completionequipment in lateral wellbores is installed separately from installationof completion equipment in the main wellbore. In this regard, it becomesdifficult to extend cabling through a junction at the intersection oftwo wellbores, such as the main and lateral wellbores, because of theinstallation of equipment into more than one wellbore requires separatetrips since the equipment cannot be installed at the same time unlessthe equipment is small enough to fit side-by-side in the main bore whiletripping in the hole. Secondly, if there is more than one wellbore, theequipment would have to be spaced out precisely so that each segment oflateral equipment would be able to exit into its own lateral wellbore atthe precise time the other equipment was exiting into their respectivelaterals, while at the same time maintaining connectivity with otherlocations in the wellbore.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1a depicts an offshore well completion system having a unitaryjunction assembly installed at the intersection of a main wellbore and alateral wellbore, according to one or more illustrative embodiments;

FIG. 1b depicts an offshore well completion system having a unitaryflexible junction assembly installed at the intersection of a mainwellbore and a lateral wellbore, according to one or more illustrativeembodiments;

FIG. 1c depicts a unitary junction assembly installed in a multilateralwellbore completion system with wireless energy transfer mechanismsdeployed to permit energy and data transfer across the junction,according to one or more illustrative embodiments;

FIG. 2 depicts the deflector installed in an offshore well completionsystem of FIG. 1b , according to one or more illustrative embodiments;

FIG. 3 depicts the unitary flexible junction assembly installed in anoffshore well completion system of FIG. 1b , according to one or moreillustrative embodiments;

FIG. 4 depicts the unitary flexible junction assembly of FIG. 3 engagedwith the deflector of FIG. 2, according to one or more illustrativeembodiments;

FIG. 5 depicts the unitary flexible junction assembly of FIG. 3 duringdeployment in a multilateral well completion system, prior to engagementwith the deflector of FIG. 2, according to one or more illustrativeembodiments;

FIG. 6 depicts the unitary flexible junction assembly of FIG. 3 afterdeployment in a multilateral well completion system, engaged with thedeflector of FIG. 2 and a lateral lower completion assembly, accordingto one or more illustrative embodiments;

FIGS. 7a-7b depict tubing string carrying wireless energy transfermechanisms engaged with a unitary junction assembly;

FIG. 8 depicts the unitary junction assembly installed in an offshorewell completion system of FIG. 1a , according to one or moreillustrative embodiments;

FIGS. 9a-9b each depict a vector or junction block which may bepositioned upstream of deflector as part of an upper completion assemblyof FIGS. 1a and 1b , according to one or more illustrative embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The disclosure may repeat reference numerals and/or letters in thevarious examples or figures. This repetition is for the purpose ofsimplicity and clarity and does not in itself dictate a relationshipbetween the various embodiments and/or configurations discussed.Further, spatially relative terms, such as beneath, below, lower, above,upper, uphole, downhole, upstream, downstream, and the like, may be usedherein for ease of description to describe one element or feature'srelationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated, theupward direction being toward the top of the corresponding figure andthe downward direction being toward the bottom of the correspondingfigure, the uphole direction being toward the surface of the wellbore,the downhole direction being toward the toe of the wellbore. Unlessotherwise stated, the spatially relative terms are intended to encompassdifferent orientations of the apparatus in use or operation in additionto the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if an apparatusin the figures is turned over, elements described as being “below” or“beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” theother elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term “below” canencompass both an orientation of above and below. The apparatus may beotherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and thespatially relative descriptors used herein may likewise be interpretedaccordingly.

Moreover, even though a figure may depict a horizontal wellbore or avertical wellbore, unless indicated otherwise, it should be understoodby those skilled in the art that the apparatus according to the presentdisclosure is equally well-suited for use in wellbores having otherorientations including, deviated wellbores, multilateral wellbores, orthe like. Likewise, unless otherwise noted, even though a figure maydepict an offshore operation, it should be understood by those skilledin the art that the apparatus according to the present disclosure isequally well-suited for use in onshore operations and vice-versa.

Generally, a multilateral wellbore system is provided for placement atbranch junctions within wellbores. The system comprises a junctionassembly having a conduit with a first upper aperture, a first loweraperture and a second lower aperture, where the first lower aperture isdefined at the distal end of a primary leg extending from a conduitjunction and the second lower aperture is defined at the distal end of alateral leg extending from the conduit junction. Preferably, thejunction assembly is a unitary assembly and at least one of the legs isdeformable. The junction assembly further includes an upper energytransfer mechanism (ETM) mounted on the conduit between the first upperaperture and the conduit junction and at least a first lower wirelessenergy transfer mechanism (WETM) mounted on the primary leg of thejunction assembly between the junction and the first lower aperture. Theupper ETM may be a WETM. Preferably, the junction assembly includes alower WETM mounted on each of the primary and lateral legs and inelectrical communication with the upper ETM. The WETM in each case maybe an inductive coupler coil or segment disposed to wirelessly transferenergy and signals to another inductive coupler coil when positionedadjacent one another. The signals may be control, data or other types ofcommunication signals. In the case of a unitary junction assembly, theunitary nature of junction assembly permits the upper ETM to be in wiredcommunication with one or both of the lower WETMs without the need forconnectors therebetween as would be the case with multi-piece junctionassemblies assembled downhole at the wellbore junction.

Turning to FIGS. 1a and 1b , shown is an elevation view in partialcross-section of a multilateral wellbore completion system 10 utilizedto complete wells intended to produce hydrocarbons from wellbore 12extending through various earth strata in an oil and gas formation 14located below the earth's surface 16. Wellbore 12 is formed of multiplebores, extending into the formation 14, and may be disposed in anyorientation, such as lower main wellbore portion 12 a and lateralwellbore 12 b illustrated in FIGS. 1a and 1 b.

Completion system 10 may include a rig or derrick 20. Rig 20 may includea hoisting apparatus 22, a travel block 24, and a swivel 26 for raisingand lowering casing, drill pipe, coiled tubing, production tubing, workstrings or other types of pipe or tubing strings, generally referred toherein as string 30. In FIGS. 1a and 1b , string 30 is substantiallytubular, axially extending production tubing supporting a completionassembly as described below. String 30 may be a single string ormultiple strings as discussed below.

Rig 20 may be located proximate to or spaced apart from wellhead 32,such as in the case of an offshore arrangement as shown in FIGS. 1a and1b . One or more pressure control devices 34, such as blowout preventers(BOPS) and other equipment associated with drilling or producing awellbore may also be provided at wellhead 32 or elsewhere in the system10.

For offshore operations, as shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b , rig 20 may bemounted on an oil or gas platform 36, such as the offshore platform asillustrated, semi-submersibles, drill ships, and the like (not shown).Although system 10 of FIGS. 1a and 1b is illustrated as being amarine-based multilateral completion system, system 10 of FIGS. 1a and1b may be deployed on land. In any event, for marine-based systems, oneor more subsea conduits or risers 38 extend from deck 40 of platform 36to a subsea wellhead 32. Tubing string 30 extends down from rig 20,through subsea conduit 38 and BOP 34 into wellbore 12.

A working or service fluid source 42, such as a storage tank or vessel,may supply, via flow lines 44, a working fluid (not shown) pumped to theupper end of tubing string 30 and flow through string 30 to equipmentdisposed in wellbore 12, such as subsurface equipment 48. Working fluidsource 42 may supply any fluid utilized in wellbore operations,including without limitation, drilling fluid, cement slurry, acidizingfluid, liquid water, steam or some other type of fluid. Productionfluids, working fluids, cuttings and other debris returning to surface16 from wellbore 12 may be directed by a flow line 44 to storage tanks50 and/or processing systems 52, such as shakers, centrifuges, othertypes of liquid/gas separators and the like.

With reference to FIG. 1c and ongoing reference to FIGS. 1a and 1b , allor a portion of the main wellbore 12 a is lined with liner or casing 54that extends from the wellhead 32, which casing 54 may include thesurface, intermediate and production casings as shown in FIG. 1. Casing54 may be comprised of multiple strings with lower strings extendingfrom or otherwise hung off an upper string utilizing a liner hanger 184(see FIG. 5). For purposes of the present disclosure, these multiplestrings will be jointly referred to herein as the casing 54. An annulus58 is formed between the walls of sets of adjacent tubular components,such as concentric casing strings 54; or the exterior of string 30 andthe inside wall of a casing string 54; or the wall of wellbore 12 and acasing string 54, as the case may be. For outer casing 54, all or aportion of the casing 54 may be secured within the main wellbore 12 a bydepositing cement 60 within the annulus 58 defined between the casing 54and the wall of the main wellbore 12. In some embodiments, the casing 54includes a window 62 formed therein at the intersection 64 between themain wellbore 12 a and a lateral wellbore 12 b.

As shown in FIGS. 1a, 1b and 1c , subsurface equipment 48 is illustratedas completion equipment and tubing string 30 in fluid communication withthe completion equipment 48 is illustrated as production tubing 30.Although completion equipment 48 can be disposed in a wellbore 12 of anyorientation, for purposes of illustration, completion equipment 48 isshown disposed in each of the main wellbore 12 a, and a substantiallyhorizontal portion of lateral wellbore 12 b. Completion equipment 48 mayinclude a lower completion assembly 66 having various tools, such as anorientation and alignment subassembly 68, one or more packers 70 and oneor more sand control screen assemblies 72. Lower completion assembly 66a is shown disposed in main wellbore 12 a, while lower completionassembly 66 b is shown disposed in lateral wellbore 12 b. It will beappreciated that the foregoing is simply illustrative and that lowercompletion assembly 66 is not limited to particular equipment or aparticular configuration.

Disposed in wellbore 12 at the lower end of tubing string(s) 30 is anupper completion assembly 86 that may include various equipment such aspackers 88, flow control modules 90 and electrical devices 102, such assensors or actuators, computers, (micro) processors, logic devices,other flow control valves, digital infrastructure, optical fiber,Intelligent Inflow Control Devices (ICDs), seismic sensors, vibrationinducers and sensors and the like. Upper completion assembly 86 may alsoinclude an energy transfer mechanism (ETM) 91, which may be wired orwireless, such as an inductive coupler segment. In the case of awireless ETM, namely, a WETM, although the disclosure contemplates anyWETM utilized to wireless transfer power and/or communication signals,in specific embodiments, the wireless ETMs discussed herein may beinductive coupler coils or other electric components, and for thepurposes of illustration, will be referred to herein generally as aninductive coupler segments. It will be appreciated that the ETMsgenerally, and WETMs specifically, may be used for a variety ofpurposes, including but not limited to transferring energy, gatheringdata from sensors, communicating with sensors or other electricaldevices, controlling electric devices along the length of the lateralcompletion assembly, charging batteries, long-term storage capacitors orother energy storage devices deployed downhole,powering/controlling/regulating Inflow Control Devices (“ICDs”), etc. Inone or more embodiments ETM 91 is in electrical communication withpacker 88 and/or flow control modules 90 and/or electrical devices 102or may otherwise comprise electrical devices 102. ETM 91 may beintegrally formed as part of packer 88 or flow control module 90, orseparate therefrom. ETM 91 may be an inductive coupler segment 91 orsome other WETM. To the extent separate tubing strings 30 extend fromthe surface 16 to upper completion assembly 86, then one tubing stringmay communicate with main wellbore 12 a, while another tubing string(see FIG. 9b ) may communicate with lateral wellbore 12 b, therebysegregating the production from each wellbore 12 a, 12 b. In such case,packer 88 may be a dual bore packer.

At the intersection 64 of the main wellbore 12 a and the lateralwellbore 12 b is a junction assembly 92 engaging a location mechanism 93secured within main wellbore 12 a. The location mechanism 93 serves tosupport the junction assembly 92 at a desired vertical location withincasing 54, and may also maintain the junction assembly 92 in apredetermined rotational orientation with respect to the casing 54 andthe window 62. Location mechanism 93 may be any device utilized tovertically (relative to the primary axis of main wellbore 12 a) secureequipment within wellbore 12 a, such as a latch mechanism. In one ormore embodiments, junction assembly 92 is a deformable junction thatgenerally comprises a deformable, unitary conduit 96 (see FIG. 3). Inone or more embodiments, junction assembly 92 may be a rigid conduit 95(see FIG. 7). In embodiments of junction assembly 92 where junctionassembly 92 is a deformable junction that comprises a deformable conduit96, the junction assembly 92 may be deployed with a deflector 94 (seeFIG. 2) which may be disposed to engage the location mechanism 93. Inother embodiments, junction assembly 92 may comprise deflector 94.Junction assembly 92 generally permits communication between the upperportion of wellbore 12 and both the lower portion of wellbore 12 a andthe lateral wellbore 12 b. In this regard, junction assembly 92 may bein fluid communication with upper completion assembly 86. In one or moreembodiments, junction assembly 92 is a unitary assembly in that it isinstalled as a single, assembled component or otherwise, integrallyassembled before installation at intersection 64. Such a unitaryassembly, as will be discussed in more detail below, permits inductivecoupling communication to both the lower main wellbore 12 a and thelateral wellbore 12 b without the need for wet connections or physicalcouplings, while at the same time minimizing the sealing issuesprevalent in the prior art as explained below.

Significantly, such a unitary assembly minimizes the likelihood thatdebris within the wellbore fluids will inhibit sealing at the junction64. Commonly, wellbore fluid has 3% or more suspended solids, which cansettle out in areas such as junction 64 causing the seals in the area tobe in-effective. Because of this, prior art junctions installed inmultiple pieces or steps, cannot readily provide reliable high-pressurecontainment (>2,500-psi for example) and wireless power/communicationssimultaneously. Debris can become trapped between components of theprior art multi-part junctions as they are assembled downhole,jeopardizing proper mating and sealing between components. Furtherdrawbacks can be experienced to the extent the multi-part junctions arenon-circular, which is a common characteristic of many prior artjunction assemblies. In this regard, a multi-part junction whichrequires the downhole assembly (or engagement) of non-circularcomponents is prone to leakage due to 1) the environment and 2)inability to remove debris from the sealing areas. The typical downholeenvironment where a multi-piece junction is assembled is contaminatedwith drilling solids suspended in the fluid. In addition, themulti-piece junction is assembled in a location where metal shavings arelikely to exist from milling a window (hole) in the side of the casing.The metal shavings can fall out into the union of the mainbore casingand the lateral wellbore. This area is large and non-circular whichmakes it very difficult to flush the shavings and drill cuttings out ofthe area. Furthermore, the sealing areas of a multi-part junction arenot circular (non-circular) which prevents the sealing areas from beingfully “wiped cleaned” to remove the metal shavings and drill cuttingsprior to engagement of the seals and the sealing surfaces. In addition,the sealing surfaces may contain square shoulders, channels, and/orgrooves which further inhibits cleaning of all of the drilling debrisfrom them. Notably, in many cases, because of the non-circular nature ofthe components between which a seal is to be established, traditionalelastomeric seals may not be readily utilized, but rather, sealing mustbe accomplished with metallic sealing components such as labyrinthseals. As is known in the industry labyrinth seals typically do notprovide the same degree of sealing as elastomeric seals. Moreover, beingmade of metal interleaved surfaces, the seal components will bedifficult to clean prior to engagement with one another.

In contrast, a unitary junction assembly 92 as described herein isassembled on the surface in a clean environment so that all sealedconnections can be inspected, cleaned prior to assembly and thenpressure-tested before being run into the well. Moreover, the unitaryjunction assembly 92 eliminates the need for labyrinth seals as found inthe prior art junction assemblies. Extending along each of lowercompletion assemblies 66 a, 66 b is one or more electrical control linesor cables 100 mounted along either the interior or exterior of lowercompletion assembly 66. Control lines 100 may pass through packers 70and may be operably associated with one or more electric devices 102 ofthe lower completion assembly 66. Electric devices 102 may includesensors or actuators, controllers, computers, (micro) processors, logicdevices, other flow control valves, digital infrastructure, opticalfiber, Intelligent Inflow Control Devices (ICDs), seismic sensors, ETMs,WETMs, vibration inducers and sensors and the like, as well as otherinductive coupler segments. Control lines 100 may operate ascommunication media, to transmit power, or data and the like between alower completion assembly 66 and an upper completion assembly 86 viajunction assembly 92. Data and other information may be communicatedusing electrical signals or other telemetry that can be converted toelectrical signals to, among other things, monitor and control theconditions of the environment and various tools in lower completionassembly 66 or other tool string.

Extending uphole from upper completion assembly 86 are one or moreelectrical control lines 104 which extend to the surface 16. Controllines 104 may be electrical, hydraulic, optic, or other lines. Controllines 104 may operate as communication media, to transmit power, signalsor data and the like between a controller, commonly at or near thesurface (not shown), and the upper and lower completion assemblies 86,66, respectively.

Carried on production tubing 30 is a ETM 106 as will be described inmore detail below, with a control line 104 extending from ETM 106 tosurface 16. In one or more embodiments, ETM is a WETM, and may be in theform of an inductive coupler segment 106.

Likewise, deployed in association with junction assembly 92 are two ormore ETMs 108, at least of which, one is a WETM, with one or morecontrol lines 100 extending from junction assembly 92. Morespecifically, in one or more embodiments, junction assembly 92 includesan upper ETM 108 a, which is preferably in the form of a WETM, and forat least one wellbore 12, and preferably both for each of the mainwellbore 12 a and the lateral wellbore 12 b, junction assembly 92includes a WETM 108 b, 108 c, respectively, preferably in the form ofinductive coupler segments where the inductive coupler segments 108 b,108 c communicate with an upper ETM 108 a all carried on junctionassembly 92. In one or more embodiments, in the case of inductivecoupler segments 108 b, 108 c, each WETM is downhole from theintersection 64 when junction assembly 92 is installed in wellbore 12.

Finally, at least one ETM 110, and preferably a WETM such as aninductive coupler segment, is deployed in lateral wellbore 12 b inassociation with lower completion assembly 66 b. It will be appreciatedthat when two WETMs are axially aligned (such as is shown in FIG. 4 byinductive coupler segments 108 b and 136), wireless coupling between thealigned coupler segments can permit wireless transfer between thesegments of power and/or monitoring and control signals. This isparticularly true where the WETMs are inductive coupler segments so asto facilitate inductive coupling between the WETMs. While in someembodiments, the two aligned inductive coupler segments are on oppositesides of a pressure barrier (such as within the interior of a pressureconduit and on the exterior of a pressure conduit), in otherembodiments, the two inductive coupler segments may be on the same sideof a pressure conduit, simply permitting a connector-less coupling fortransmission of power and/or signals.

Turning to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, embodiments of unitary junction assembly 92having a deformable conduit 96 are illustrated and generally includes(a) an upper section for attachment to a pipe string and having a firstupper aperture; (b) a lower section comprising a primary passagewayending in a first lower aperture for fluid communication with adeflector and a secondary passageway ending in a second lower aperturefor fluid communication with the secondary wellbore; and (c) adeformable portion. One or more of the passageways may be formed along aleg whereby the conduit is separated into the primary leg and thesecondary leg, thereby forming a unitary multilateral junction, theunitary nature of which permits junction assembly 92 to be installed inas a single unit that can more readily be used to transfer power and/orcommunication signals to both the lower main wellbore 12 a and thelateral wellbore 12 b. The deformable portion may be a leg or conduitjunction located between the upper section and the lower section of theconduit.

The embodiments of junction assembly 92 illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4may be deployed in conjunction with a deflector 94 which may be used toposition junction assembly 92. With specific reference to FIGS. 2 and 4,deflector 94 is positioned along casing 54 adjacent the intersection 64between the main wellbore 12 a and lateral wellbore 12 b. In particular,the deflector 94 is located distally to the intersection 64, adjacent orin close proximity to it, such that when equipment is inserted throughthe main wellbore 12 a, the equipment can be deflected into the lateralwellbore 12 b at the intersection 64 a result of contact with thedeflector 94. The deflector 94 may be anchored, installed or maintainedin position within the main wellbore 12 a using any suitableconventional apparatus, device or technique.

The deflector 94 has an external surface 112, an upper end 114, a lowerend 116 and an internal surface 118. The external surface 112 of thedeflector 94 may have any shape or configuration so long as thedeflector 94 may be inserted in the main wellbore 12 a in the mannerdescribed herein. In one or more embodiments, the external surface 112of the deflector 94 is preferably substantially tubular or cylindricalsuch that the deflector 94 is generally circular on cross-section.

In preferred embodiments, the deflector 94 may include a seal assembly120 positioned along external surface 112 to provide a seal between theexternal surface 112 of the deflector 94 and the internal surface 122 ofthe casing 54 of main wellbore 12 a. Thus, wellbore fluids are inhibitedfrom passing between the deflector 94 and the casing 54. As used herein,a seal assembly, such as seal assembly 120, may be any conventional sealor sealing structure. For instance, a seal assembly such as sealassembly 120 may be comprised of one or a combination of elastomeric ormetal seals, packers, slips, liners or cementing. Likewise, a sealassembly such as seal assembly 120 may also be a sealable surface. Sealassembly 120 may be located at, adjacent or in proximity to the lowerend 116 of the deflector 94.

The deflector 94 further comprises a deflecting surface 124 located atthe upper end 114 of the deflector 94 and a seat 126 for engagement withthe junction assembly 92. When positioned in the main wellbore 12 a, asshown in FIG. 2, the deflecting surface 124 is located adjacent thelateral wellbore 12 b such that equipment inserted through the mainwellbore 12 a may be deflected into the lateral wellbore 12 b to theextent the equipment cannot pass through deflector 94 as describedbelow. The deflecting surface 124 may have any shape and dimensionssuitable for performing this function, however, in preferredembodiments, the deflecting surface 124 provides a sloped surface whichslopes from the upper end 114 of the deflector 94 downwards, towards thelower end 116 of the deflector 94.

The seat 126 of the deflector 94 may also have any suitable structure orconfiguration capable of engaging the junction assembly 92 to positionor land the junction assembly 92 in the main and lateral wellbores 12 a,12 b in the manner described herein. In the preferred embodiment, whenviewing the deflector 94 from its upper end 114, the seat 126 is offsetto one side opposite the deflecting surface 124.

Further, in the preferred embodiment, the deflector 94 further comprisesa deflector bore 128 associated with the seat 126. The deflector bore128 is associated with the seat 126, which engages the junction assembly92, in a manner such that the movement of fluids in the main wellbore 12a through the deflector 94 and through the junction assembly 92 isfacilitated.

The deflector bore 128 extends through the deflector 94 from the upperend 114 to the lower end 116. The deflector bore 128 preferably includesan upper section 130, adjacent the upper end 114 of the conduit 94,communicating with a lower section 132, adjacent the lower end 116.Preferably, the seat 126 is associated with the upper section 130.Further, in the preferred embodiment, the seat 126 is comprised of allor a portion of the upper section 130 of the deflector bore 128. Inparticular, the upper section 130 is shaped or configured to closelyengage the junction assembly 92 in the manner described below. The boreof the lower section 132 of the deflector bore 128 preferably expandsfrom the upper section 130 to the lower end 116 of the deflector 94. Inother words, the cross-sectional area of the lower section 132 increasestowards the lower end 116. Preferably, the increase in cross-sectionalarea is gradual and the cross-sectional area of the lower section 132adjacent the lower end 116 is as close as practically possible to thecross-sectional area of the lower end 116 of the deflector 94.

Disposed along bore 128 is a seal assembly 134. Seal assembly 134 may beany conventional seal assembly. For instance, the seal assembly 134 maybe comprised of one or a combination of seals and sealing surfaces orfriction fit surfaces. In one or more embodiments, seal assembly 134 islocated along the inner surface 118 in upper section 130 of thedeflector 94.

Deflector 94 further includes an ETM 136, and preferably, a WETM 136,mounted thereon. In one or more embodiments, WETM 136 is inductivecoupler segment, and for purposes of this discussion, without intendingto limit the WETM 136, will be discussed as a inductive coupler segment.While inductive coupler segment 136 may be mounted internally orexternally along deflector 94, in one or more embodiments, inductivecoupler segment 136 is deployed internally along bore 128. In one ormore preferred embodiments, inductor segment 136 is mounted upstream ofseals 134 between seals 134 and upper end 114 so that a cable 100extending down from deflector 94 to lower completion assembly 66 a.Likewise, in one or more preferred embodiments, inductor segment 136 ismounted downstream of seals 134 between seals 134 and lower end 116 sothat a cable 100 extending down from deflector 94 to lower completionassembly 66 a does not interfere with seal 134. In this regard,inductive coupler segment 136 is preferably located below seat 126.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, junction assembly 92 may be comprised of aconduit having a deformable portion 96 with an outside surface 140 asdescribed below. In some embodiments, the conduit 96 is generallytubular or cylindrical in shape such that the conduit 96 is generallycircular on cross-section and defines an outside diameter. In someembodiments, conduit 96 may have a D-shaped cross-section, while inother embodiments, conduit 96 may have other cross-sectional shapes.Conduit 96 includes an upper section 142, a lower section 144 and aconduit junction 146. In one or more embodiments, the conduit junctionis the deformable portion, while in other embodiments, the conduitjunction is rigid and one or both of the conduit legs is deformable. Theupper section 142 is comprised of a proximal end 147 opposing theconduit junction 146 with a first upper aperture 145 defined in theupper section 142. Thus, the upper section 142 extends from the junction146, in a direction away from the lower section 144, for a desiredlength to the proximal end 147. In addition, the upper section 142 mayfurther include a polished bore receptacle (PBR) 149 shown in FIG. 4,either integrally formed or secured to proximal end 147. The junctionassembly 92 may include a liner hanger 184 in combination with theconduit 96 to support the conduit in the wellbore 12.

In one or more embodiments, the conduit 96 is unitary. In this regard,conduit 96 may be integrally formed, in that the upper section 142, thelower section 144 and the conduit junction 146 are comprised of a singlepiece or structure. Alternately, the conduit 96, and each of the uppersection 142, the lower section 144 and the conduit junction 146, may beformed by interconnecting or joining together two or more pieces orportions that are assembled into a unitary structure prior to deploymentin wellbore 12.

The lower section 144 is comprised of (i) a primary leg 148 having awall 148′, the primary leg 148 extending from the conduit junction 146and (ii) a secondary or lateral leg 150 having a wall 150′, the lateralleg 150 extending from the conduit junction 146. The primary leg 148 iscapable of engaging the seat 126 (see FIG. 2) of the deflector 94, whilethe lateral leg 150 is capable of being inserted into the lateralwellbore 12 b. The conduit junction 146 is located between the uppersection 142 and the lower section 144 of the conduit 96 comprising thejunction assembly 92, whereby the conduit 96, and in particular thelower section 144, is separated or divided into the primary and laterallegs 148, 150.

The primary leg 148 has a distal end 152 opposing the conduit junction146 with a first lower aperture 151 defined at the distal end 152. Thus,the primary leg 148 extends from the conduit junction 146, in adirection away from the upper section 142 of the conduit 96, for adesired length to the distal end 152 of the primary leg 148. In thepreferred embodiment, the primary leg 148 is tubular or hollow such thatfluid may be conducted between the first upper aperture 145 of the uppersection 142, past the conduit junction 146 to the first lower aperture151 of the distal end 152. Thus, fluid may be conducted through the mainwellbore 12 a by passing through the conduit 96 of the junction assembly92 and the deflector bore 128 of the deflector 94.

The secondary or lateral leg 150 also has a distal end 154 opposing thejunction 146 with a second lower aperture 153 defined at the distal end154. Thus, the secondary leg 150 extends from the conduit junction 146,in a direction away from the upper section 142 of the conduit 96, for adesired length to the distal end 154 of the secondary leg 150. Thesecondary leg 150 is tubular or hollow for conducting fluid between thefirst upper aperture 145 of the upper section 142, past the conduitjunction 146 to the second lower aperture 153 of the distal end 154. Inthe illustrated embodiment, lateral leg 150 is deformable. In otherembodiments, both of legs 148, 150 may be deformable.

As used herein, “deformable” means any pliable, movable, flexible ormalleable conduit that can be readily manipulated to a desired shape.The conduit may either retain the desired shape or return to itsoriginal shape when the deforming forces or conditions are removed fromthe conduit. For example, lateral leg 150 is movable or flexes relativeto primary leg 148 due to conduit junction 142.

Junction assembly 92 further includes first, second and third inductivecoupler segments 108 a, 108 b and 108 c. First inductive coupler segment108 a is preferably positioned along upper section 142 between proximalend 147 and conduit junction 146. Second inductive coupler segment 108 bis positioned along primary leg 148 between conduit junction 146 anddistal end 152, while third inductive coupler segment 108 c ispositioned along secondary leg 150 between conduit junction 146 anddistal end 154. In the case of second and third inductive couplersegments 108 b and 108 c, the segments are preferably positionedadjacent the distal end 152, 154, respectively, of the primary leg 148and secondary leg 150. Likewise, in the case of the first, second andthird inductive coupler segments 108 a, 108 b and 108 c, they may bepositioned either along the interior or exterior of junction assembly92. In FIGS. 3 and 4, first, second and third inductive coupler segments108 a, 108 b and 108 c are illustrated as being positioned along theexterior of junction assembly 92. As illustrated, a cable 100 extendsfrom first inductive coupler segment 108 a down to each of the secondand third inductive coupler segments 108 b and 108 c. Because junctionassembly 92 is unitary in nature, it allows first inductive couplersegment 108 a to be readily connected to both the second and thirdinductive coupler segments 108 b and 108 c since the interconnectionsneed not bridge separately installed components as would commonly occurin the prior art with multi-piece junction assemblies.

In any event, primary leg 148 may be of any length permitting theprimary leg 148 to engage the seat 126 of the deflector 94 and inductivecoupler segment 108 b to be positioned in the vicinity of, and generallyaligned with, inductive coupler segment 136 of deflector 94. In thisregard, inductive coupler segments 136 and 108 b may be on the same sideof a pressure barrier, and thus, adjacent one another, or separated by apressure barrier, and thus, simply aligned with one another. In anyevent, the secondary leg 150 may be of any length permitting thesecondary leg 150 to be deflected into the lateral wellbore 12 b.Further, the primary and secondary legs 148, 150 may be of any lengthsrelative to each other. However, in the preferred embodiment, thesecondary leg 150 is longer than the primary leg 148 such that thedistal end 154 of the secondary leg 150 extends beyond the distal end152 of the primary leg 148 when the conduit junction 146 issubstantially undeformed.

With respect to the alignment of coupler segments, it will be understoodthat two segments may require axial alignment, circumferential alignmentor both.

In one or more preferred embodiments, when the secondary leg 150 is in asubstantially undeformed position as shown in FIG. 3, the primary leg148 and the secondary leg 150 are substantially parallel to each other.However, the primary and secondary legs 148, 150 need not besubstantially parallel to each other, and the longitudinal axes of theprimary and secondary legs 148, 150 need not be substantially parallelto the longitudinal axis of the conduit 96, as long as the conduit 96may be inserted and lowered into the main wellbore 12 a when thesecondary leg 150 is in a substantially undeformed position.

When the junction assembly 92 is connected to a pipe string 30 andlowered in the main wellbore 12 a, the secondary leg 150 is capable ofbeing deflected into the lateral wellbore 12 b by the deflector 94 suchthat the deformable conduit junction 146 becomes deformed and theprimary leg 148 then engages the seat 126 of the deflector 94, as shownin FIG. 4. The deformable conduit junction 146 separates the primary leg148 and the secondary leg 150 and permits the placement of the junctionassembly 92 in the main and lateral wellbores 12 a, 12 b.

As stated, the primary leg 148 is capable of engagement with the seat126 of the deflector 94. Thus, the shape and configuration of theprimary leg 148 is chosen or selected to be compatible with the seat126, being the upper section 130 of the deflector bore 128 in thepreferred embodiment.

Further, the seat 126 engages the primary leg 148 such that the movementof fluid in the main wellbore 12 a, through the deflector 94 and theconduit 96, is facilitated. Preferably, the primary leg 148 engages theseat 126 to provide a sealed connection between the deflector 94 and themain wellbore 12 a. Any conventional seal assembly 134 may be used toprovide this sealed connection. For instance, the seal assembly 134 maybe comprised of one or a combination of seals or a friction fit betweenthe adjacent surfaces. In the preferred embodiment, the seal assembly134 is located between the primary leg 148 and the upper section 130 ofthe deflector bore 128 when the primary leg 148 is seated or engages theseat 126. The seal assembly 134 may be associated with either theprimary leg 148 or the upper section 130 of the deflector bore 128.However, preferably, the seal assembly 134 is associated with the uppersection 130 of the deflector bore 128.

Primary leg 148 may include a guide 158 for guiding the primary leg 148into engagement with the seat 126. The guide 158 may be positioned atany location along the length of the primary leg 148 which permits theguide 158 to perform its function. However, preferably, the guide 158 islocated at, adjacent or in proximity to the distal end 152 of theprimary leg 148. The guide 158 may be of any shape or configurationcapable of guiding the primary leg 148. However, preferably the guide158 has a rounded end 160 to facilitate transmission down the wellbore12, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4.

The secondary leg 150 may include an expansion section 162 located at,adjacent or in proximity to the distal end 154 of the secondary leg 150.The expansion section 162 comprises a cross-sectional expansion of thesecondary leg 150 in order to increase its cross-sectional area. Asindicated above, the length of the secondary leg 150 is greater than thelength of the primary leg 148 in the preferred embodiment. Preferably,the secondary leg 150 commences its cross-sectional expansion to formthe expansion section 162 at a distance from the conduit junction 146approximately equal to or greater than the distance of the distal end152 of the primary leg 148 from the conduit junction 146. Thus, when theconduit junction 146 is undeformed, the expansion section 162 is locatedbeyond or distal to the distal end 152 of the primary leg 148 as shownin FIG. 3.

A liner 164 for lining the lateral wellbore 12 b may extend from conduit96. The liner 164 may be any conventional liner, including a perforatedliner, a slotted liner or a prepacked liner. In one or more embodiments,the liner 164 may form part of the lower completion assembly 66 b inlateral wellbore 12 b, while it in other embodiments, liner 164 may be aseparate and generally in fluid communication with conduit 96. In anyevent, liner includes a proximal end 166 and a distal end 168, where theproximal end 166 is attached to the distal end 154 of the secondary leg150. The distal end 168 extends into the lateral wellbore 12 b such thatall or a portion of the lateral wellbore 12 b is lined by the liner 164.Thus, junction assembly 92 may function to hang the liner 164 in thelateral wellbore 12 b. Alternatively, as discussed below, a stinger 172(see FIG. 5), may be attached to the distal end 154 of secondary leg 150and utilized to transport liner 164 and/or other components of a lowercompletion assembly 66 (see FIG. 5) into lateral wellbore 12 b.

The upper section 142 conducts fluid therethrough from the deformableconduit junction 146 to the proximal end 147. In the preferredembodiment, the upper section 142 permits the mixing or co-mingling ofany fluids passing from the primary and secondary legs 148, 150 into theupper section 142. However, alternately, the upper section 142 maycontinue the segregation of the fluids from the primary and secondarylegs 148, 150 through the upper section 142. Thus, the fluids are notpermitted to mix or co-mingle in the upper section 142.

Junction assembly 92 may also include one or more seal assemblies 170associated with it. Seal assemblies 170 may be carried on conduit 96 ormay be carried on adjacent equipment, such as a liner hanger (see linerhanger 184 b in FIG. 5) supporting junction assembly 92. As illustrateda seal assembly 170 a is associated with the upper section 142 of theconduit 96, or may form or comprise a portion thereof, such that theseal assembly 170 a provides a seal between the conduit 96 and casing 54within the main wellbore 12 a. Seal assembly 170 a may be carried onconduit 96 such as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, or some other adjacentequipment, such as shown in FIG. 5, but is generally provided to sealthe upper section 142 of junction assembly 92. Preferably, the sealassembly 170 a is located between the outside surface 140 of the uppersection 142 of the conduit 96 (other liner hanger 84, as the case maybe) and the internal surface 122 of casing 54. Thus, seal assembly 170 ainhibits wellbore fluids from passing between the conduit 96 and thecasing string 54.

A seal assembly 170 b is shown positioned along primary leg 64,preferably adjacent distal end 152, and a seal assembly 170 c is shownpositioned along secondary leg 150, preferably adjacent distal end 154.The seal assembly 170 may be comprised of any conventional seal orsealing structure. For instance, the seal assembly 170 may be comprisedof one or a combination of seals, packers, slips, liners or cementing.

In one or more embodiments, where inductive coupler segments that arecabled to one another are positioned so that consecutive inductivecoupler segments are on the same tubular, such as inductive couplersegments 108 illustrated on conduit 96, and are within the same pressurebarrier, it may be desirable to position the inductive coupler segmentsbetween sets of sealing elements, such as seal assemblies 170 a and 170b. This prevents the need for a cable, such as cable 100, fromstraddling or extending across a pressure barrier. As used herein,pressure barrier may refer to a wall between an interior and exterior ofa tubular, such as a string or casing, or may refer to a zone defined bysuccessive sets of seal assemblies along a tubular.

In one or more embodiments where cooperating inductive coupler segments,i.e., inductive coupler segments disposed to wirelessly transfer powerand/or signals therebetween, are positioned adjacent one another withinthe same pressure barrier (as opposed to simply aligned on oppositesides of a tubing wall), it may be necessary for a cable 100 extendingto one of the inductive coupler segments to pass through a pressurebarrier, such as a seal assembly, in order to electrically connect viacable 100 respective electrical components. For example, in FIG. 4,primary leg 148 of a junction assembly 92 is inserted into bore 128 ofdeflector 94. As shown, the inductive coupler segment 136 carried bydeflector 94 is adjacent inductive coupler segment 108 b carried byjunction assembly 92. Because the inductive coupler segments 136, 108 bare within the same pressure barrier, the cable 100 extending from oneof the inductive coupler segments 136, 108 b must extend through oraround a seal assembly, such as is shown where cable 100 extending frominductive coupler segment 136 to a downhole electrical device 102 passesthrough seal assembly 134 of deflector 94. In another embodiment, cable100 may pass from the internal surface 118 to the external surface 112of deflector 94 and then extend downhole along the external surface 112of deflector 94.

Alternatively, it will be appreciated, that inductive coupler segment136 may be located on the external surface 112 deflector 94 and simplyaligned with inductive coupler segment 108 b positioned on junctionassembly 92 within the interior of deflector 94. In such case, no suchpressure barrier need be crossed, and cable 100 may extend downhole toan electrical device 102 positioned within the pressure barrier ofinductive coupler segment 136.

As best illustrated in FIG. 5, in one or more embodiments, junctionassembly 92 may include a stinger 172 attached to the distal end 154 ofsecondary leg 150. In such case, the third inductive coupler segment 108c of secondary leg 150 may be carried on stinger 172. More generally inFIG. 5, a lower completion assembly 66 a is illustrated deployed in thelower portion of a main wellbore 12 a, while a lower completion assembly66 b is illustrated deployed in a lateral wellbore 12 b. Although lowercompletion assemblies 66 as described herein are not limited to aparticular configuration, for purposes of illustration, lower completionassembly 66 b is shown as having one or more sand control screenassemblies 72 and one or more packers 70 extending from a liner orhanger 184 a, with a bore 186 extending therethrough. Lower completionassembly may also include at its proximal end 188 a polished borereceptacle, such as PBR 149 shown in FIG. 4.

Moreover, each lower completion assembly 66 may include an inductivecoupler segment associated with the respective lower completion assembly66. In particular, at least lower completion assembly 66 b includes aninductive coupler segment 110 associated with it. In particular,inductive coupler segment 110 is deployed along lower completionassembly 66 b adjacent proximal end 188 for alignment with inductivecoupler segment 108 c as described below.

In FIG. 5, deflector 94 is illustrated being conveyed into the mainwellbore 12 a by junction assembly 92 and coupled to a latch mechanism93. The deflector 94 is operatively coupled to string 30 via a junctionassembly 92 and the stinger 172 to facilitate installation of thedeflector 94. Once installed in the well 12, the junction assembly 92may be configured to provide access to lower portions 12 a of the mainwellbore 12 via primary leg 148 and to the lateral wellbore 12 b viasecondary leg 150.

The stinger 172 may include a stinger member 176 that is coupled to andextends from the secondary leg 150, a shroud 178 is positioned at adistal end of the stinger member 176, and one or more seal assemblies170 c (see also FIG. 3) are arranged within the shroud 178. Likewise,the shroud 178 may be disposed around third inductive coupler segment108 c (see also FIG. 3) mounted adjacent seals 170 c. In someembodiments, the shroud 178 may be coupled to the deflector 94 with oneor more shear pins 180 or a similar mechanical fastener. In otherembodiments, the shroud 178 may be coupled to the deflector 94 usingother types of mechanical or hydraulic coupling mechanisms.

As previously described, junction assembly 92 includes first, second andthird inductive coupler segments 108 a, 108 b and 108 c, eitherinternally or externally along conduit 96. Moreover, junction assembly92 may include a polished bore receptacle 149 at its proximal end 147with the upper inductive coupler segment 108 a (not shown in FIG. 5) atthe proximal end of junction assembly 92 being disposed along thepolished bore receptacle 149 of junction assembly 92.

Deflector 94 is conveyed into the wellbore 12 until it engages latchmechanism 93. Once the deflector 94 is properly connected to the latchmechanism 93, the string 30 may be detached from the deflector 94 at thestinger 172 and, more particularly, at the shroud 178. This may beaccomplished by placing an axial load on the stinger 172 via the string30 and shearing the shear pin(s) 180 that connect the stinger 172 to thedeflector 94. Once the shear pin(s) 180 sheared, the stinger 172 maythen be free to move with respect to the deflector 94 as manipulated byaxial movement of the string 30. More particularly, with the deflector94 connected to the latch mechanism 93 and the stinger 172 detached fromthe deflector 94, the string 30 may be advanced downhole within the mainwellbore 12 to position secondary leg 150 and the stinger 172 within thelateral wellbore 12 b. The diameter of the deflector bore 128 may besmaller than a diameter of the shroud 178, whereby the stinger 172 isprevented from entering the deflector bore 128 but the shroud 178 isinstead forced to ride along deflecting surface 124 of deflector 94 andinto the lateral wellbore 12 b.

In one or more embodiments, any hanger 184 deployed within wellbore 12may also include an inductive coupler segment 156 in addition to oralternatively to the inductive coupler segment 108 a of junctionassembly 92. In FIG. 5, a hanger 184 b is illustrated as supportingproduction casing 54.

Referring to FIG. 6, the stinger 172 and the secondary leg 150 of thejunction assembly 92 are depicted as positioned in the lateral wellbore12 b and engaging the lower completion assembly 66 b of the lateralwellbore 12 b. During deployment, the shroud 178 of stinger 172 engagesthe lower completion assembly 66 b. In one or more embodiments, thediameter of the shroud 178 may be greater than a diameter of the bore186 and, as a result, the shroud 178 may be prevented from entering thelower completion assembly 66. Upon engaging the lower completionassembly 66, weight may then be applied to the stinger 172 via thestring 30, which may result in the shroud 178 detaching from the distalend of the stinger member 176. In some embodiments, for instance, one ormore shear pins or other shearable devices (not shown) may be used tocouple the shroud 178 to the distal end of the stinger member 176, andthe applied axial load may surpass a shear limit of the shear pins,thereby releasing the shroud 178 from the stinger member 176. It will beappreciated that while a shroud 178 is described herein as a mechanismfor protecting seal assemblies 170 and inductive coupler segment 108 cduring deployment, the disclosure is not limited to configurations witha shroud 178, and thus, in other embodiments, shroud 178 may beeliminated.

With the shroud 178 released from the stinger member 176, the string 30may be advanced further such that the shroud 178 slides along the outersurface of the stinger member 176 as the stinger member 176 advancesinto the lower completion assembly 66 where the stinger seals 170sealingly engage the inner wall of bore 186 and the third inductivecoupler segment 108 c carried on stinger 176 is generally aligned withan inductive coupler segment 110 carried on the lower completionassembly 66. With the stinger seals 170 sealed within bore 186, fluidcommunication may be facilitated through the lateral wellbore 12 b,including through the various components of lower completion assembly66.

Notably, advancing the string 30 downhole within the main wellbore 12also advances the primary leg 148 until locating and being receivedwithin the deflector bore 128. The seal assembly 134 in the deflectorbore 128 sealingly engages the outer surface of the primary leg 148 andthe second inductive coupler segment 108 b carried on primary leg 64 ofjunction assembly 92 is positioned adjacent an inductive coupler segment136 of deflector 94.

When deployed as described herein, the unitary junction assembly 92permits power and/or data signals to be transmitted to locations in boththe main wellbore 12 a below the intersection 64 and the lateralwellbore 12 b. Such an arrangement is particularly desirable because iteliminates the need to overcome multiple separate wellbore componentstraditionally installed at an intersection 64 between wellbores 12 a, 12b.

Turning to FIGS. 7 and 8, another embodiment of junction assembly 92comprising a rigid conduit 95 is illustrated. In embodiments of junctionassembly 92 having a rigid conduit 95, junction assembly 92 ispreferably multi-bore. Thus, in the illustrated embodiments, junctionassembly 92 takes the form of a dual bore deflector that has dual boresand is secured to and extends upwardly from the latch mechanism 93 shownin FIG. 1. Conduit 95 is general characterized as extending along aprimary axis or centerline 192 and having a first end 194.

More specifically, conduit 95 may have at its first end 194 a sleeve198, the upper edge of which may include a guide surface 200. In one ormore embodiments, guide surface 200 may be helical in shape. At thelower end of the sleeve 198 is a plate or wall 202 which is generallyarranged to be normal to the centerline 192 of conduit 95 so as to forma rigid conduit junction 146. The wall 202 has two adjacent openings 204and 206 extending through it. The openings 204 and 206 may be offset inopposite directions from the centerline 192, so that the centerline 192generally extends through a portion of the wall 202 which is disposedbetween the openings 204 and 206.

The junction assembly 92 has, immediately below the wall 202 forming therigid conduit junction 146, two adjacent legs or passageways 208 and 210formed in conduit 95 and extending from wall 202, where each leg orpassageway 208, 210 opens into the sleeve 198 through a respective oneof the openings 204 and 206. The passageways 208 and 210 are radiallyoffset from the centerline 192, and a wall 212 is provided between them.Leg or passageway 208 may be characterized as a primary leg and is influid communication with lower main wellbore 12 a when deployed in awellbore 12 via a first lower opening 209, while leg or passageway 210may be characterized as a secondary or lateral leg and is in fluidcommunication with lateral wellbore 12 b via a second lower opening 218when deployed in a wellbore 12 and engaged with a latch mechanism 93(see FIG. 1.) The junction assembly 92 also includes an elongate tube214 defining a passageway 216 that is aligned with and communicates withthe passageway 208 so as to extend the length of primary leg orpassageway 208.

Elongated tube 214 may be fixedly secured or formed in the conduit 95 sothat the centerline of elongated tube 214 is radially offset from theaxis 192 of conduit 95. Elongate tube 214, and thus, passageway 216, hasa gradual incline or deviation with respect to the primary axis 192, sothat the passageway 216 extends downwardly and inwardly toward theprimary axis 192.

As set forth above, conduit 95 of the junction assembly 92 has in oneside thereof a second lower aperture 218 forming a window, which isvertically and rotationally aligned with the window 92 (?92 is junctionassembly) of casing 54 when junction assembly 92 is secured to latchmechanism 93. The conduit 95 has an upwardly facing deflector surface220 formed along the conduit 95, the deflector surface 220 being spacedapart from, but facing the lower aperture 218 so as to extend upwardlyand inwardly relative to the lower edge of the lower aperture 218,preferably at an acute angle with axis 192 so as to define a gradualincline with respect to the primary axis 192. The deflector surface 220which may be a concave groove that progressively tapers in width anddepth in a downward direction. In other embodiments, the groove may haveother concave cross-sectional shapes, such as a semicircularcross-sectional shape.

Although junction assembly 92 having a rigid conduit 95 may have theparticular configuration as described above, it will be appreciated thatthe junction assembly 92 of the disclosure, in other embodiments, neednot be limited to the particular configuration described above and thatthe foregoing is for illustrative purposes only.

In any event, for any of the junction assembly 92, an upper inductivecoupler segment 221 is carried on conduit 95, preferably positionedalong or in the vicinity of passageway 208 of conduit 95, while a lowerinductive coupler segment 223 is carried on conduit 95 at a locationspaced apart from upper inductive coupler 221, such location preferablyalong or at second end 196 of conduit 95 (see FIG. 7b ). One or both ofinductive coupler segments 221, 223 may be mounted either internallywithin conduit 95 or along the exterior of conduit 95. A cable 100 mayelectrically connect the inductive coupler segments 221, 223.

With reference to FIG. 9a and ongoing reference to FIGS. 7 and 8,junction assembly 92 in the form of deflector 94 is disposed for receiptof two tubing strings 222 and 224. In one or more embodiments, tubingstrings 222 and 224 extend down from an upper completion assembly 86upstream of deflector 94. In one or more embodiments, the tubing strings222 and 224 may extend from the surface 16 (not shown), directly orthrough a dual bore packer 88.

In one or more embodiments, a vector or junction block 226 may bepositioned upstream of deflector 94, either as part of an uppercompletion assembly 86 or separately therefrom. In one or moreembodiments, the junction assembly 92 comprises the vector block 226. Inany event, tubing strings 222 and 224 may extend downward from vector orjunction block 226. Vector or junction block 226 may be utilized tocomingle flow streams from the lateral wellbore 12 b and the mainwellbore 12 a. In one or more embodiments, vector or junction block 226is formed of a tubular 227 having a first upper aperture 229, a firstlower aperture 231 and a second lower aperture 233. In one or moreembodiments, a first flowbore 235 through tubular 227 interconnectsfirst upper aperture 229 with first lower aperture 231 and a secondflowbore 236 through tubular 227 interconnects first upper aperture 229with second lower aperture 233 so that flow through the first and secondlower apertures 231, 233 is comingled in junction block 226. In otherembodiments, junction block 226 includes a second upper aperture 238 asshown in FIG. 9b . In these embodiments, first flowbore 235interconnects first upper aperture 229 with first lower aperture 231 andsecond flowbore 236 interconnects second upper aperture 238 with secondlower aperture 233 so that flow through the first and second lowerapertures 231, 233 remains segregated. String 30 from the surface orotherwise upstream of block 226 may be in fluid communication with firstupper aperture 229 as shown.

It will be appreciated that junction block 226 as shown in FIG. 9b mayinclude seal assemblies 170 in which case junction block 226 functionsas a dual bore packer. Alternatively, junction block 226 may be used incombination with a mono bore packer (such as packer 88 in FIG. 1).Junction block 226 may also be supported in tubing string 222 by a linerhanger or similar mechanism 184. In any event, the dual bore packer orthe junction block 226, as the case may be, is releasably secured withinthe casing 54 of wellbore 12 and resists both upward and downwardmovement of the tubing string 222, and the tubing string 222 in turnresists upward movement of the junction assembly 92.

Each tubing string 222, 224 carries at its distal end an inductivecoupler segment, and may also carry a seal assembly. As illustrated,inductive coupler segment 230 is positioned along tubing string 224,preferably at its distal end. A seal assembly 228 may be positionedadjacent the inductive coupler segment 230. Likewise, tubing string 222includes an inductive coupler segment 234 at its distal end with a sealassembly 232 positioned adjacent the inductive coupler segment 234. Inone or more preferred embodiments, one or both seal assemblies 228, 232may be located upstream of the respective inductive coupler segments230, 234, while in other embodiments, the respective inductive couplersegments 230, 234 are positioned between the seal assemblies 228, 232and the end of the respective tubing string 224, 222. In the case ofboth inductive coupler segments 230, 234, a cable 100 or 104 may extenduphole for direct or indirect communication with the surface 16. In aconfiguration similar to the foregoing, to the extent string 30communicates with junction block 226, string 30 may also include aninductive coupler segment 230 and a seal assembly 232.

In any event, as tubing string 222 is engaged with deflector 94, and inparticular cylindrical passageway 208, seal assembly 228 sealinglyengages a seal bore 211 provided within the upper end 194 of the dualbore deflector 94. The seal bore 211 communicates with elongated tube214. When tubing string 222 is engaged with seal bore 211 as described,inductive coupler segment 230 is positioned to form an inductivecoupling with upper inductive coupler segment 221 carried on conduit 95.

The tubing string 224 extends past the deflector surface 220 and outinto the lateral wellbore 12 b. The seal assembly 232 sealingly engagesthe lower completion assembly 66 b in the lateral wellbore 12 b. Whentubing string 224 is engaged with lower completion assembly 66 b asdescribed herein, inductive coupler segment 234 is positioned to form aninductive coupling with inductive coupler segment 110 associated withlower completion assembly 66 b.

Elongated tube 214 extends downwardly towards the lower portion of mainwellbore 12 a for engagement, either directly or indirectly viaadditional tubulars (such as production tubing) and equipment, withlower completion assembly 66 a.

It should be appreciated that unless specifically limited in aparticular embodiment, in all embodiments of the junction assembliesdescribed herein, as well as the other components of a completion systemor equipment utilized in installation of a completion assembly, theenergy transfer mechanism (ETM), whether wireless or not, in each casemay be mounted on the interior or exterior of the equipment on which itis disposed, depending on how the ETM will couple to other ETMs.Similarly, unless specifically limited in a particular embodiment, eachETM, whether wireless or not, may be positioned above or below a sealingmechanism, as desired for a particular deployment. Thus for example,along any given tubular, an inductive coupler coil may be positionedalong an inner bore or surface of the tubular or along an outer surfaceof the tubular or may pass through the tubular wall between the interiorand the exterior. The coil may be located adjacent a sealing mechanismpositioned along an inner bore or surface of the tubular or along anouter surface of the tubular. The coil may be located adjacent the endof the tubular or along the body of the tubular. The coil may be locatedabove or below (upstream or downstream) a sealing mechanism. Similarly,unless specifically limited in a particular embodiment, cablingextending between wireless energy transfer mechanisms may run along theinterior of the tubular or along the exterior of the tubular or may passthrough the tubular wall between the interior and the exterior.

Thus, a multilateral wellbore system has been described. A multilateralwellbore system may generally a unitary junction assembly having aconduit having a first upper aperture, a first lower aperture and asecond lower aperture; the first lower aperture defined at the distalend of a primary leg extending from a conduit junction; the second loweraperture defined at the distal end of a lateral leg extending from theconduit junction, where at least one of the legs of the junctionassembly is deformable; an upper energy transfer mechanism (ETM) mountedalong the conduit between the first upper aperture and the conduitjunction; and a lower wireless energy transfer mechanism (WETM) mountedalong one of the legs between the distal end of the passageway and theupper ETM, the upper ETM in wired communication with the lower WETM. Inother embodiments, a multilateral wellbore system may generally includea unitary junction assembly having a conduit having a first upperaperture, a first lower aperture and a second lower aperture; the firstlower aperture defined at the distal end of a primary leg extending froma deformable conduit junction; the second lower aperture defined at thedistal end of a lateral leg extending from the deformable conduitjunction; a first lower wireless energy transfer mechanism (WETM)mounted on one of the legs of the junction assembly; and an upper energytransfer mechanism (ETM) mounted on the conduit between the first upperaperture and the deformable conduit junction, the upper ETM in wiredcommunication with the first lower WETM. In other embodiments, amultilateral wellbore system may generally include a unitary junctionassembly having a conduit with a first upper aperture, a first loweraperture and a second lower aperture; the first lower aperture definedat the distal end of a primary passageway formed by the conduit andextending from a conduit junction defined along the conduit; the secondlower aperture defined at the distal end of a lateral passageway formedby the conduit and extending from the conduit junction; an upper energytransfer mechanism (ETM) mounted along the conduit between the firstupper aperture and the conduit junction; and a lower wireless energytransfer mechanism (WETM) mounted along one of the passageways betweenthe distal end of the passageway and the upper ETM, the upper ETM inwired communication with the lower WETM. In other embodiments, amultilateral wellbore system may generally include a junction assemblyhaving a conduit with a first upper aperture, a first lower aperture anda second lower aperture; the first lower aperture defined at the distalend of a primary passageway formed by the conduit and extending from aconduit junction defined along the conduit; the second lower aperturedefined at the distal end of a lateral passageway formed by the conduitand extending from the conduit junction; the conduit further includingan upwardly facing deflector surface formed along the conduit andopposing, but spaced apart from the second lower aperture; an upperenergy transfer mechanism (ETM) mounted along the conduit; and a lowerwireless energy transfer mechanism (WETM) mounted along the primarypassageway of the junction assembly between the upper wireless energytransfer mechanism and the first lower aperture, the upper ETM in wiredcommunication with the lower WETM. In other embodiments, a multilateralwellbore system may generally include a junction assembly having aconduit with a first upper aperture, a first lower aperture and a secondlower aperture; the first lower aperture defined at the distal end of aprimary leg extending from a conduit junction; the second lower aperturedefined at the distal end of a lateral leg extending from the conduitjunction; the conduit further including an upwardly facing deflectorsurface formed along the conduit and opposing, but spaced apart from thesecond lower aperture; an upper energy transfer mechanism mounted alongthe conduit; and a lower wireless energy transfer mechanism mounted onone of the legs of the junction assembly between the upper energytransfer mechanism and a lower aperture. In still yet other embodiments,a multilateral wellbore system may generally include a unitary junctionassembly having a conduit having a first upper aperture, a first loweraperture and a second lower aperture; the first lower aperture definedat the distal end of a primary leg extending from a conduit junction;the second lower aperture defined at the distal end of a lateral legextending from the conduit junction, where at least one of the legs ofthe junction assembly is deformable; a first wireless energy transfermechanism mounted on the lateral leg of the junction assembly; and asecond wireless energy transfer mechanism mounted on the primary leg ofthe junction assembly. In other embodiments, a multilateral wellboresystem may generally include a unitary junction assembly having aconduit having a first upper aperture, a first lower aperture and asecond lower aperture; the first lower aperture defined at the distalend of a primary leg extending from a deformable conduit junction; thesecond lower aperture defined at the distal end of a lateral legextending from the deformable conduit junction; a wireless energytransfer mechanism mounted on the lateral leg of the junction assembly;an energy transfer mechanism mounted on the conduit between the firstupper aperture and the deformable conduit junction. In otherembodiments, a multilateral wellbore system may generally include aunitary junction assembly having a conduit having a first upperaperture, a first lower aperture and a second lower aperture; the firstlower aperture defined at the distal end of a primary leg extending froma conduit junction; the second lower aperture defined at the distal endof a lateral leg extending from the conduit junction, where at least oneof the legs of the junction assembly is deformable; an upper energytransfer mechanism (ETM) mounted along the conduit between the firstupper aperture and the conduit junction; and a lower wireless energytransfer mechanism (WETM) mounted along one of the legs between thedistal end of the passageway and the upper ETM, the upper ETM in wiredcommunication with the lower WETM. In other embodiments, a multilateralwellbore system may generally include a unitary junction assembly havinga conduit having a first upper aperture, a first lower aperture and asecond lower aperture; the first lower aperture defined at the distalend of a primary leg extending from a deformable conduit junction; thesecond lower aperture defined at the distal end of a lateral legextending from the deformable conduit junction; a first lower wirelessenergy transfer mechanism (WETM) mounted on one of the legs of thejunction assembly; and an upper energy transfer mechanism (ETM) mountedon the conduit between the first upper aperture and the deformableconduit junction, the upper ETM in wired communication with the firstlower WETM.

For any of the foregoing, the multilateral wellbore system may includeany one of the following elements, alone or in combination with eachother:

at least one of the wireless energy transfer mechanisms is an inductivecoupler segment.

each of the wireless energy transfer mechanisms is an inductive couplersegment.

a wireless energy transfer mechanism mounted on each leg.

at least one of the legs of the junction assembly is deformable.

each passageway comprises a leg and at least one of the legs of thejunction assembly is deformable.

a completion deflector having an energy transfer mechanism mountedthereon, the completion deflector comprising a tubular formed along aprimary axis and having a first end and a second end, with a contouredsurface provided at the first end, the tubular further having an innerbore extending between the two ends with a seal assembly along the innerbore, the first end and the inner bore disposed for receipt of theprimary leg of the junction assembly.

the energy transfer mechanism of the completion deflector is mounted inthe bore between the first end and the seal assembly.

a lateral completion assembly, the lateral completion assemblycomprising an energy transfer mechanism mounted thereon.

the lateral completion assembly further comprises an inner boreextending between a first end and a second end, with the energy transfermechanism mounted about the inner bore and a seal assembly along theinner bore between the energy transfer mechanism and the second end.

the lateral completion assembly comprises a packer and the inner bore isformed in a mandrel of the packer.

the lateral completion assembly comprises a packer and a polished borereceptacle in fluid communication with the packer, and the inner bore isformed in the polished bore receptacle.

a first tubing string having a distal end with a wireless energytransfer mechanism disposed on the first tubing string adjacent thedistal end, wherein the first tubing string extends into the first upperaperture of the junction assembly and through the lateral leg and seatsin the lateral completion assembly so that the wireless energy transfermechanism carried on the first tubing string is wirelessly coupled tothe wireless energy transfer mechanism of the lateral completionassembly.

a first tubing string having a distal end with a wireless energytransfer mechanism disposed on the first tubing string adjacent thedistal end, wherein the first tubing string is a lateral completionassembly and the ETM disposed thereon is a WETM.

a second tubing string having a distal end with a wireless energytransfer mechanism disposed on the second tubing string, wherein thesecond tubing string extends into the second upper aperture of thejunction assembly so that the wireless energy transfer mechanism carriedon the second tubing string is wirelessly coupled to the upper wirelessenergy transfer mechanism of the junction assembly.

an electrical device in wired communication with a energy transfermechanism of the lateral completion assembly, the electrical deviceselected from the group consisting of sensors, flow control valves,controllers and actuators.

the electrical device selected from the group consisting of sensors,actuators, computers, (micro) processors, logic devices, flow controlvalves, valves, digital infrastructure, optical fiber, IntelligentInflow Control Devices (ICDs), seismic sensors, vibration inducers andvibration sensors.

the energy transfer mechanism comprises an inductive coupler coil

the energy transfer mechanisms comprises an inductive coupler segment.

the lateral leg is defined along an axis, the system further comprisinga deflector surface formed along the lateral leg axis and opposing, butspaced apart from the second lower aperture.

a first tubing string having a distal end with a wireless energytransfer mechanism disposed on the first tubing string, wherein thefirst tubing string extends through a portion of the junction assemblyand protrudes from the second lower aperture of the second lateral leg;and a second tubing string having a distal end with a wireless energytransfer mechanism disposed on the second tubing string, wherein thesecond tubing string extends into the first upper aperture of thejunction assembly so that the wireless energy transfer mechanism carriedon the second tubing string is wirelessly coupled to both of thewireless energy transfer mechanisms of the junction assembly.

a lateral completion assembly, the lateral completion assemblycomprising an energy transfer mechanism mounted thereon.

the lateral completion assembly further comprises an inner boreextending between a first end and a second end, with the energy transfermechanism mounted about the inner bore and a seal assembly along theinner bore between the energy transfer mechanism and the second end,wherein the first tubing string extends into the first upper aperture ofthe junction assembly so that the wireless energy transfer mechanismcarried on the first tubing string is wirelessly coupled to the wirelessenergy transfer mechanism of the lateral completion assembly.

the lateral completion assembly comprises a packer and the inner bore isformed in a mandrel of the packer.

the lateral completion assembly comprises a packer and a polished borereceptacle in fluid communication with the packer, and the inner bore isformed in the polished bore receptacle.

an electrical device in wired communication with an energy transfermechanism of the lateral completion assembly, the electrical deviceselected from the group consisting of sensors, valves, controllers andactuators.

the upper wireless energy transfer mechanism mounted adjacent the firstupper aperture is carried on the conduit between the first upperaperture and the conduit junction.

the upper wireless energy transfer mechanism mounted adjacent the firstupper aperture is carried on a liner hanger upstream of the first upperaperture.

the upper wireless energy transfer mechanism mounted adjacent the firstupper aperture is carried on a polished bore receptacle upstream of thefirst upper aperture.

the lateral completion assembly further comprises an inner boreextending between a first end and a second end, with the energy transfermechanism mounted along the inner bore, the first end and the inner boredisposed for receipt of the lateral leg of the junction assembly.

a seal assembly mounted along the inner bore of the lateral completionassembly, between the energy transfer mechanism and the second end ofthe inner bore.

the seal assembly comprises an elastomeric seal.

the seal assembly comprises a sealing surface.

the primary passageway comprises a primary leg, the system furthercomprising a completion deflector having a WETM mounted thereon, thecompletion deflector comprising a tubular formed along a primary axisand having a first end and a second end, with a contoured surfaceprovided at the first end, the tubular further having an inner boreextending between the two ends with a sealing device along the innerbore, the first end and the inner bore disposed for receipt of theprimary leg of the unitary junction assembly.

the WETM of the completion deflector is mounted in the bore between thefirst end and the sealing device.

a completion deflector having an energy transfer mechanism mountedthereon, the completion deflector comprising a tubular formed along aprimary axis and having a first end and a second end, with a contouredsurface provided at the first end, the tubular further having an innerbore extending between the two ends, the first end and the inner boredisposed for receipt of the primary leg of the junction assembly.

the energy transfer mechanism of the completion deflector is mounted inthe bore between the first end and the second end.

the lateral completion assembly comprises a packer and a polished borereceptacle in fluid communication with the packer, and the inner bore isformed in the polished bore receptacle and the WETM of the lateralcompletion assembly is mounted along the inner bore of the polished borereceptacle.

a lower ETM mounted along the other leg between the conduit junction andthe lower aperture of said leg, the upper ETM in wired communicationwith the lower ETM.

the lateral leg comprises a lateral stinger having a stinger member, oneor more stinger seals positioned adjacent the energy transfer mechanismand a shroud arranged about the energy transfer mechanism and seal.

a completion deflector having an energy transfer mechanism mountedthereon, the completion deflector comprising a tubular formed along aprimary axis and having a first end and a second end, with a contouredsurface provided at the first end, the tubular further having an innerbore extending between the two ends with a sealable surface formedwithin the inner bore, the first end and the inner bore disposed forreceipt of the primary leg of the junction assembly, wherein the energytransfer mechanism of the completion deflector is mounted in the borebetween the first end and the seal assembly.

the unitary junction assembly is selected from the group consisting of adual bore deflector; a vector block; a deformable junction; a dualpacker; a vector block and monobore packer combination; and a flexiblejunction and liner hanger combination.

What is claimed is:
 1. A multilateral wellbore system comprising: aunitary junction assembly having a conduit with a first upper aperture,a first lower aperture and a second lower aperture; the first loweraperture defined at the distal end of a primary passageway formed by theconduit and extending from a conduit junction defined along the conduit;the second lower aperture defined at the distal end of a lateralpassageway formed by the conduit and extending from the conduitjunction; an upper energy transfer mechanism (ETM) mounted along theconduit between the first upper aperture and the conduit junction; and alower wireless energy transfer mechanism (WETM) mounted along one of thepassageways between the distal end of the passageway and the upper ETM,the upper ETM in wired communication with the lower WETM.
 2. The systemof claim 1, wherein the unitary junction assembly is selected from thegroup consisting of a dual bore deflector; a vector block; a deformablejunction; a dual packer; a vector block and monobore packer combination;and a flexible junction and liner hanger combination.
 3. The system ofclaim 1, wherein at least one WETM is an inductive coupler segment. 4.The system of claim 1, wherein each passageway comprises a leg and atleast one of the legs of the junction assembly is deformable.
 5. Thesystem of claim 1, further comprising a lower WETM mounted along eachpassageway.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the upper ETM is a WETM.7. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the ETMs is poweredfrom an energy source selected from the group consisting of electricity,electromagnetism, magnetism, sound, motion, vibration, Piezoelectriccrystals, motion of conductor/coil, ultrasound, incoherent light,coherent light, temperature, radiation, electromagnetic transmissions,and pressure (hydraulics).
 8. The system of claim 1, further comprisingan electrical device in wired communication with an ETM, the electricaldevice selected from the group consisting of sensors, flow controlvalves, controllers, WETMs, ETMs, contact electrical connectors,electrical power storage device, computer memory, and logic devices. 9.The system of claim 1, further comprising a first tubing string having adistal end with an ETM disposed on the first tubing string, wherein thefirst tubing string engages the unitary junction assembly so that theETM of the first tubing string is adjacent an ETM of the unitaryjunction assembly.
 10. The system of claim 9, wherein the first tubingstring is a lateral completion assembly and the ETM disposed thereon isa WETM.
 11. The system of claim 1, wherein the primary passagewaycomprises a primary leg, the system further comprising a completiondeflector having a WETM mounted thereon, the completion deflectorcomprising a tubular formed along a primary axis and having a first endand a second end, with a contoured surface provided at the first end,the tubular further having an inner bore extending between the two endswith a sealing device along the inner bore, the first end and the innerbore disposed for receipt of the primary leg of the unitary junctionassembly.
 12. The system of claim 11, wherein the WETM of the completiondeflector is mounted in the bore between the first end and the sealingdevice.
 13. The system of claim 10, wherein the lateral completionassembly further comprises an inner bore extending between a first endand a second end, with the WETM mounted about the inner bore and asealing device along the inner bore between the WETM and the second end.14. The system of claim 10, wherein the lateral completion assemblycomprises a packer and the inner bore is formed in a mandrel of thepacker and the WETM of the lateral completion assembly is mounted alongthe mandrel of the packer.
 15. The system of claim 10, wherein thelateral completion assembly comprises a packer and a polished borereceptacle in fluid communication with the packer, and the inner bore isformed in the polished bore receptacle and the WETM of the lateralcompletion assembly is mounted along the inner bore of the polished borereceptacle.
 16. The system of claim 10, further comprising an electricaldevice in wired communication with a WETM of the lateral completionassembly, the electrical device selected from the group consisting ofsensors, flow control valves, controllers, WETMs, ETMs, contactelectrical connectors, actuators, electrical power storage device,computer memory, and logic devices.
 17. A multilateral wellbore systemcomprising: a junction assembly having a conduit with a first upperaperture, a first lower aperture and a second lower aperture; the firstlower aperture defined at the distal end of a primary passageway formedby the conduit and extending from a conduit junction defined along theconduit; the second lower aperture defined at the distal end of alateral passageway formed by the conduit and extending from the conduitjunction; the conduit further including an upwardly facing deflectorsurface formed along the conduit and opposing, but spaced apart from thesecond lower aperture; an upper energy transfer mechanism (ETM) mountedalong the conduit; and a lower wireless energy transfer mechanism (WETM)mounted along the primary passageway of the junction assembly betweenthe upper wireless energy transfer mechanism and the first loweraperture, the upper ETM in wired communication with the lower WETM. 18.The system of claim 17, further comprising a first tubing string havinga distal end with a WETM disposed on the first tubing string, whereinthe first tubing string extends through a portion of the junctionassembly and protrudes from the second lower aperture of the lateralpassage and engages a lateral completion assembly having a WETM mountedthereon, the first tubing string engaging the lateral completionassembly so that the WETM carried thereon is wirelessly coupled to theWETM of the first tubing string; and a second tubing string having adistal end with a WETM disposed on the second tubing string, wherein thesecond tubing string extends into the first upper aperture of thejunction assembly so that the WETM carried on the second tubing stringis wirelessly coupled to the upper ETM of the junction assembly.
 19. Thesystem of claim 17, wherein the WETM of the first tubing string and theWETM of the lateral completion assembly are inductive coupler segments,the system further comprising an electrical device in wiredcommunication with a WETM of the lateral completion assembly, theelectrical device selected from the group consisting of sensors, flowcontrol valves, controllers, WETMs, ETMs, contact electrical connectors,actuators, electrical power storage device, computer memory, and logicdevices.
 20. The system of claim 17, further comprising a lower ETMmounted along the other passageway between the conduit junction and thelower aperture of said passageway, the upper ETM in wired communicationwith the lower ETM.